OFE kicks off Mentor Day Wednesday

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The Daily Ardmoreite

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Posted Jan. 14, 2013 at 8:00 AM
Updated Jan 14, 2013 at 9:04 AM

Posted Jan. 14, 2013 at 8:00 AM
Updated Jan 14, 2013 at 9:04 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY — As part of National Mentoring Month and to kick off Oklahoma's Year of Mentoring in 2013, the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence and its David and Molly Boren Mentoring Initiative are sponsoring Oklahoma Mentor Day at the Capitol on Wednesday.

"The goal of Oklahoma Mentor Day is to recognize outstanding mentors from all types of youth mentoring organizations around the state and to provide fun, educational activities for the honorees and their mentees to share," said Beverly Woodrome, director of the Boren Mentoring Initiative.

Each mentoring organization registered in the Boren Mentoring Initiative's statewide network has been invited to submit its 2012 Mentor of the Year or select an outstanding mentor for recognition at an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. in the House Chambers.

Oklahoma Mentor Day will also include lunch and entertainment by African-American drummer and storyteller Jahruba Lambeth.

Mentors and Mentees will participate in a state capitol scavenger hunt and have an opportunity to meet state leaders and learn about their work at the capitol. Capping off the day will be a mentor-mentee outing to the Oklahoma Science Museum.

Oklahoma Mentor Day also marks the formal launch of Oklahoma's Year of Mentoring, a year of public relations activities and events to promote youth mentoring and the development of mentoring programs statewide. Students from the University of Oklahoma public relations' firm Lindsey +Asp are teaming up with foundation staff to develop videos, public service announcements and other promotional materials for use throughout the year.

Other events in January include Thank Your Mentor Day on Thursday, an opportunity for mentoring organizations and mentees to recognize their mentors.

On Jan. 24, Woodrome will represent the Boren Mentoring Initiative at the National Mentoring Summit in Washington, D.C., presenting a session titled "Homegrown in Oklahoma: Corporate and Community Mentoring Models and Best Practices." Joining her will be Boren Mentoring Advisory Committee member Melynda Stone, executive director of Rogers County Volunteers for Youth, who will be speak on "The 3 R's: Recruitment, Retention and Rewards."

For more information on Mentoring Month activities and a list of Oklahoma mentoring organizations, visit www.okmentors.org or contact Beverly Woodrome at (405) 236-0006.